Washing and drying apparatus



Nov. 1, 1927.

1,647,763 6. W. ALDEEN WASHING A ND DRYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. v, 1925- 5 sheets-sum 1 Nov. 1,1927. 1,647,763

- G. W. ALDEEN WASHING AND DRYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. '7.

Nov. 1, 1927. 1,647,763

(5. .w. ALDEEN WASHING AND DRYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 7, 1923 5 Sheets-Shut 5 Nov. 1, 1927v 1,647,763

G. W. ALDEEN WASHING AND DRYING APPARATUS Filed Feb, 7. 1923 5 Sheets-Shoat 4 Now 1, 1927. 1,647,763

G. W. ALDEEN WASHING AND DRYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 7. v 5 Sheets-Shut 5 Patented Nov. .1, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

onnoa w. ALDEN, or section, rumors, nssrcuon r 'nnrromu. LOCK 00., or

' noon-om), rumors, n'conrons'rron or more iwnsnme AND name APPARATUS;-

Application med-ram 7, 1828. Serial no. times.

' This invention pertainsto industrial apparatus designed primarily for washing and drying manufactured articles, such as screws, bolts, nuts, rivets and the like... In-

view of the large number of sizes, materials.

' and shapes of such articles, and ofdifi'erent operations required in their manufacture, it has become customary to handle them in comparatively small batches, as in-pans or other containers, which may be easily and conveniently. transported between machines without confusion or mixing. g

One of the primary objects, therefore, of the present invention is to provide apparatus for washing and dryin these batches expeditiously and. economicafiy Another object is to provide apparatus of this character in whichthe batches are tumbled while being washed and dried with out. intermin ling or confusing the parts "of one batch with another, and in which the total time for the passage of each batch through the apparatus or machine is sub y' za' stantially uniform.

My invention washing a'nd drying. of articles and materials other thanv those specified' above,. whether fed to the apparatus continuously or intermittently, and whether in bulk orin. batches. And as 'will be presentlyapparent,

m invention is not limited'to the opera tions o washingandj drying but comprehend 3 any operation or treatment to which the contents may be -.-subj-ected while passing the; rying end;v

through the apparatus. In liurtherance of the foregoing general objects, I have-'pragided a plurality of tumj-bling drums coupled in series andhaving internal spiral 'rihs' .for. positivelyfeeding the batches or contentsto'be treated lengthwise from the inlet to the discharge end of the respective drums. In one or more of these drums the contents will'be washed or sub/ jected totreatment in a bath, and int. following drum "or drl'lms' will be. dried or subjected' to a difl'erent treatment. Ihaveprovided each washing drum or drums with a conical spiralconveyor ,flight for elevating: the contents from the bath for rinsing and delivering to the next succeeding eta-- tion, thus insuring continuity of fee ,"and

[and operated economically.

art as the invention 3 s further contemplates the stood'by reference to the following descripa substantially continuous conveyor flight from thechargmg to the discharging end 'of the apparatus. By means of th s aption, thusinsuring regularityand uniformity inthe traveliofthe batches without mixmg or mtermmghng the contents of one with another.

A further object is to provide apparatus" of the character described in which the drums are interchangeable and constitute 'u'nitswhich may be assembled in the most.

satisfactory" relation for ,the needs of the particular workat hand. i Y

My invention-also contemplates the provis on of washing and drying apparatus of novel constructionwhich may be producedv at a comparatively low cost and maintained -Ot-her objects and attendantadvantages Will 'beappreciated b those skilled in this ecomes better undernal sectional view through the washing en of the apparatus; Fi 3 s a' similar sectional view through Figs. and '5 are cross-sectional views "talien substantially on lines -44"and 5--5- has been 'articularly designed for the washing and yin of comparativelysmall-manufactured articles as described above, it

should be understood that my invention is applicable to operations other than washing or material of different descriptions in bulk as well as in individual batches- It should be understood, therefore, that the number and drying, and to the handling of articles and arrangement of drums, their mounting vention.

In the present case, I employ two washing drums 8 and 9 and three drying drums 11, 12 and 13 connected in series in co-axial relation and mounted to rotate as a unit.-

The articles or contents to be washed or otherwise treated will be fed into the' drum 8, and after traveling through'the successive drums and subjected to treatment therein will be discharged from the remote end of the drum 13.

Any suitable means may be employed for supporting and revolving the drums, and in the present instance I have mounted the washing drums upon and between rollers 14, and the drying drums on rollers 15.' The rollers 14 also employed as drivers, are fixed to shafts 16 and 17 journaled in suitable bearings 18 fixed to a supporting frame structure designated generally by 19.

Power may be applied from any suitable source for driving the shafts 16 and 17, and

at present I have indicated diagrammatically on Fig. 5, a driving chain 21 trained over a sprocket gear 22 fixed to the shaft 16 which in turn'drives the shaft 17 through the agency of a'chain 23 and sprocket wheels 24.- The rollers 15 are carried on suitable brackets 25 mounted on the frame structure 19 and 19. Because of the lead of the spiral conveyor which will be presently described, the drums will be revolved in a clockwise direction, viewing Figs. 4 and 5.v

The washing drums 8 and 9 being identical, a description of one will suffice. Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 4, it will be seen that the drum 8 is composed of cylindrical and conical portions 26' and 27, respectively, and has an inlet'opening 28 at one end and an outlet opening 29 in its opposite end. The drum, is preferably cast to shape, but may be of a built-up construction. Each end of the drum is shaped to interfit with the end of an adjoining drum, and these interfitting ends may be coupled together by any suitable means such as bolts 31. A spiral rib 32 cast on the internal wall of the drum reaching from end to end thereof constitutes a continuous spiral conveyor adapted for positively feeding the contents to be washed or treatedfrom the inlet to the outlet end. This spiral rib is of uniform depth throughout the cylindrical and conical portions of the drum.' The latter portion of the drum has relatively large, circumferentially spaced openings through its peripheral wall covered by perforated plates 33, which permit the washing fluid reaching this level to drain through.

The washing fluid is fed into the drum 8 through means of a nozzle 34 connected by r apipe 35 to a supply tank or reservoir 36,

a rotary pump 37 being employed for feeding the fluid. For the purpose of washing small metal parts such as screws, bolts and the like, I employ a soda solution at a high temperature. A separate tank 38, pump 39, pipe casing 41 and nozzle 42 supply a weaker washing solution to the drum 9, the pipe 41 being supported at its nozzle end in a bearing carriedby a bracket 40, fixed to the inlet end of the drum 9. The second bath may, however, be used for rinsing, and as already explained, the nature and number of baths are not essential to the present invention. Likewise the feed capacity is not important, although it is sullicient to cause the washing solution to overflow through the perforated plates, or more particularly, to be fed up the conical portions of the drum by the spiral ribs.

Articles or material fed into the drum 8 through the inlet opening 28 will be tumbled by rotation of the drum and fed lengthwise therein by reason of the spiral conveyor 32. \Vhile being tumbled, the articles will be partially or wholly submerged in the washin fluid and thereby thoroughly cleansed. It will be observed that .the articles confined between two adJoining ribs will gravitate to the bottom of the drum and during the continued tumbling action will be advanced by and between these ribs and thereby positively fed lengthwise along the bottom of the drum. Where one batch of articles covers or is spread over two or more adjoining channels, this relation will be maintained throughout the travel of the batch through the drum. Consequently by chargingthe drum at short intervals, there will be a gap in the spiral channel between batches and each batch will maintain its initial relation to the preceding batch. As the articles are elevated by the spiral ribs through the conical portion of the drum, the

washing fluid carried to this level will drain through the perforated plates 33. It will be manifest that each batch after draining will be discharged directly into the next suc 'ceeding drumin which it will be immediately picked up by the spiral conveyor and fed forwardly.

For convenience in charging the drum, I provide a charging hopper 43 pivoted at 44 and normally occupying the lower position shown in Fig. 1. The operator empties a pan or container of the articles into the hopper 43 in this lowered position, and then tilts the outer end of the hopper upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2, discharging the contents into the drum.

The drying drums 11, 12 and 13 are somewhat similar in construction to the washing drums, except that they are of uniform and smaller diameter from end to end. -These drums having flanged ends 45 coupled together by bolts 46, are likewise cast to shape with integral internal spiral ribs 47. It

will be observed that the drums are so connected that the continuity of the-conveyor ribs is not broken, consequently the batches will feed from the washing drum 9- into the drying drum 11 and through the'succeeding drums without interruption, where they Wlll spread out somewhat because of the smaller diameter of the drying drums and thus be thoroughly dried; These cylindrical drums are obviously interchangeable with the conhaselongated circumferentially ical drums so that any combination or series 7 perforated plates 51.

In order to draw off the steam and vapor arising from the tanks 36 and 38 and from the draining solution, I have provided a hood or canopy 52 over the drums 8 and 9 which connects with a suction pipe 53. At the opposite end of the machine, it is desired to conserve the heat, and I have vided a separate hood 54 covering the rying drums.

The batches of articles to be washed and dried are fed at short intervals. into the hbpper 8 asv described above, and each will be continuously and positively fed through the successive drums from station to station and finally discharged down the chute 55.

It will .now be observed that the batches mayvary in quantity so as to fill more than one conveyor channel, and to illustrate a typical case, I have indicated by dott d lines batches 56 to 66 inclusive in their ravel through the ,machine. 'Inasmuchas the drums revolveat a uniform speed, the space between batches is directly proportional to the intervals between which the batches are fed into the first drum. The total timeof travel is approximately the same for each batch. Consequently, apparatus of this character is ver eflicient and satisfactory for washing an drying of articles which va considerably insize, number and materia This is attributed mainly to the fact that each batch maintains its identity, the articles of one batch are not-mixed or intermingled with those of another, the batches are continuously and positively fed during their en tire travel through the machine, and the rela tiverelation, of the batches in transit remains constant.

I An important feature of my invention is, therefore, the continuous spiral conve or composed of a series of conveyor flig ts 'intermmg which carry the'"'batche s to difierent levels during and at which they are subjected to different treatments and conditions, as for example in the present case the contents are washed, drained and dried. It should be manifest that the spiral conveyor need not necessarily be in the particular form shown. Likewise, the drum structure might be varied to. suit the requirements of difl'erent classes of work, and ofthe nature of the bath or other treatment.

' In the event that the articles or material to be treated is fed continuously or in' bulk into the drum 8, it will be observed that even though the contents piles up in the drum, the

up only a limited quantity, thereby insuring ahiuniform capacity feed through the mac ne.

In the claims the word contents is used w in the sense of describing the articles or material of any nature whatsoever, which are fed through the apparatus and subjected to the difierent treatments.

It is believed that the foregoing conveys a clear understanding of the objects .prefaced above, and while I have illustrated but a single working embodiment, it should be understood that considerable change might be made in the construction and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim -1. Apparatus of the charactendescribed for washing and drying individual batches of small parts without intermingling the parts .of one batch with those of another, comprising a rotary drum having coaxial cylindrical washing and drying portions joined by an intermediate conical draining portion, an internal rib in the drum extending throughout said portions providing a continuous s iral conveyor for continuously and positive y moving the batches there' through, and a feed chute for discharging separate batches into one end of said drum to go through the same at short intervals, from the inlet end tothe outlet end of the drum so as to keep their identity and avoid g ofunlike articles of different batches. 2.In'a washing 1 the character described, was ng, drainin and; drying drums coextensive and coaxia spirals through the conical portion will pick and dryinfiapparatus of I and; connected to turn together fbr the tumbling and continuous feeding from end to end of individual batches of small parts at intervals the length of the system, the wash ing drum being cylindrical and of comparatively lar e diameter to contain washing solution with the batches for thoroughly" cleanin the same, the drying drumabeing cylindrical and of comparativel all diameter and elongated to receive-the batches.

in somewhat spread out condition for drying, means for heating the drying drum, said draining drum belng' conical in form converging from the large diameter of the 5 washing drum to the small diameter of the drying drum and provided with walls through which the washing solution may 

